Why We Care

Why We Care

Affordable Housing and Transportation Programs Threatened

Feb 13, 2017

Funding for affordable housing, community development, and transportation programs is under attack. Contact Congress today and tell them to protect the federal spending needed to ensure families and communities can thrive. And sign your organization onto a letter by advocates calling on Congress to protect vital programs.

In late January 2017, news broke that the Trump Administration is preparing dramatic cuts to the federal budget to reduce spending by over $10 trillion over 10 years, while also promising to increase defense spending and cut taxes that predominantly benefit wealthy Americans. Severe budget cuts will largely fall on critical safety net and other essential programs, including affordable housing, community development, and transportation programs that help raise families out of poverty—programs that are already facing devastating cuts in the upcoming budget year because of the very low spending caps required by law.

Organizations and advocates concerned about transportation, housing, community development, and homelessness are working together to circulate a letter urging Congress to lift the harmful caps on federal spending and provide the highest level of funding possible for these programs in fiscal year (FY) 2018.

Why This is Important

Congress should not balance the budget on the backs of low income families. With more households struggling to make ends meet—and our nation’s affordable housing and transportation infrastructure deteriorating—we cannot afford funding cuts to the very programs that sustain our communities and help families thrive.

The Department of Transportation and HUD help more than 5 million seniors, people with disabilities, and other families afford stable and safe housing, promote economic mobility, build critical transportation infrastructure, and spur economic development in our communities. Through these investments, we can reduce homelessness and housing instability, improve our nation’s infrastructure, and encourage economic growth and job creation.

How You Can Take Action

Members of Congress need to hear from you! Join advocates around the country by signing a letter urging Congress to lift harmful spending caps and to provide the highest level of funding possible for affordable housing, community development, and transportation programs.

Please click here to sign your organization on to the letter. The deadline to sign the letter is March 3.